Kyle Lamb Goes Elk Hunting: The Hunt

After an uneventful flight to the wild Western States of America, I arrived at my buddy's camp. Severe show and tell started immediately. As I pulled the new 300 PRC from the case, the crowd grew silent. It’s a really pretty machine, and they looked impressed. Then I handed the rifle to my buddy Chase, his smile went ear to ear. “Dude, this is a really, really light rifle.”

I was invited to this hunt to help others, but deep down I hoped for the chance to kill a critter with the new rifle. Get the job done for the veterans and then maybe get my turn in the barrel.

Click here to read about the rifle Kyle assembled for the hunt!

CONFIRMING ZERO

The fella I was hunting with is a former Marine named Nick, a super dude, easy to be around, and as I would shortly see, he had good data. We set up a target at 100 yards to get the TSA scope adjustments rectified, then stretched it out to 600 yards on a very small coyote target. Nick was dialed in, which boosted our confidence. In the past, I’ve hunted with men who didn’t come prepared. This can be disturbing when elk hunting: you might only get one chance, and you don’t want to blow it by being unprepared.

On another note, I always check my zero when I arrive at a new hunting location. Hunting isn’t cheap, and with the way tags are going these days, you don’t know how many more years you will have to apply to get a tag. Always check your dope, period. If you don’t have any targets available, I can usually find a stop sign without too many holes and check zero on it. Just kidding, but it’s easy to come prepared.

Several years ago, I went to Montana to hunt bear with my buddy Lynn Ashley. He is a super innovative dude. He had a brown paper sack from the grocery store, which is free where he and I live. If you live in a communist or socialist state, you may have to pay for a grocery bag, but it’s worth the five cents. He had fluorescent targets already stuck to the back of the bag–all we had to do was take it to the desired range, put some rocks in the bottom of the bag, and we had a ready-made zero confirmation target.

So with Nick and my data confirmed and a little inter-service trash talking, we hit the rack with visions of giant elk for our next morning's opening day hunt.

THE HUNT

Before the sun rose, we were on the mountain in position to attack. Another buddy, Clif, had ridden along with Nick and me to keep us from fabricating too many lies about the hunt. The sky slowly grayed, then lightened as the morning began.

There was a good breeze coming down the mountain. We eased into a patch of quakies (Aspens) to glass and pray for the elk to make their way toward us. The Elk gods smiled on us that morning, and before we knew it, a herd of elk was spotted on a hillside to our front. Still too far to shoot, but slowly feeding along a line that would put them within range.

Nick and I were excited; we low-crawled forward with Clif pulling up the rear security. In no time, we were positioned on a small bluff overlooking the target area. Nick built a sitting position over a stump, and I slid in 15 feet to his left, deployed my Triple Pull Ckye-Pod, and assumed a good sitting position to clear the deadfall to my front. Clif and I started trying to get ranges to the lead bulls who were starting to move with a little more purpose.

When the lead bull stepped out, I must say, Nick got excited. I was excited as well, but had a mission at hand to get this young fella his first bull elk. Thirty yards behind the lead 6x6 bull, another large 6x6 walked out. I asked Nick if he wanted to shoot the second bull, but he was already target fixated on the first and had made up his mind that it was the bull for him.

Using my rangefinding binoculars, I got a range of 570 yards. Nick dialed in his data as I did the same. I also dialed down the magnification in my scope until I could see both bulls within my field of view. Clif and I were both attempting the soothing sound of Lou Rawls as we talked to Nick. He is a stone-cold killer, so he was ready, dialed, stable. It was time for the show.

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

“Alright, Nick, you ready?” I knew he was on the bull. “I’m gonna stop’em. Take your time and make a good shot.” At this point, I was more excited than he was. Then the Marine Sniper came out.

“OK, let’s do a sniper countdown and shoot both of those bulls,” I swear he said it like John Wayne.

“Dude, just shoot your bull, then I’ll shoot.” My total focus was on his success. I gotta admit it made me smile, too, warriors hunting elk, and this Marine wants to take it old school with a countdown. I chuckled under my breath, then filled my lungs and gave a cow call. The wind was blowing at least 10 knots, so the sound was having a little trouble making it to the bulls. I called again, as loud as I could muster. The delay felt like it took days, but then it happened. As though we had written the script, both bulls stopped and turned their heads in our direction, broadside, 25 yards apart. I had ear pro on since Nick was using a muzzle brake, but the crack still startled me as I watched his bull through my scope. The second bull was just visible inside my field of view as well. Nick’s bull hunched, then dropped. I was stoked.

I slid my reticle over to the bull I planned to kill, found my wind hold, and squeezed the trigger. It was as though time stood still as that bullet flew through the air. Having the opportunity to be on the mountain with a Marine who had sacrificed so much for our country, and being blessed to be with him as he killed his first bull. The story he now had would last a lifetime.

My bull hit the deck. Once we confirmed they were dead, Nick bum rushed me; he was smiling from ear to ear. Hugs all around, but now the work would really begin.

WHY WE DO IT

Get out and hunt, and go with those you enjoy and value as friends. Nick and I have stayed in contact. He is a great young man, a good husband, and a spectacular father. And now he can add Elk Killer to that list of who he is.

See you on the range! Kyle Lamb

About The Author

Sergeant Major Kyle Lamb retired from the United States Army after 21 years of service, 18 of which were with US Army Special Operations Forces. His time in the service includes 16 years with 1st SFOD-D Delta Force. Lamb has served in many conflicts, including Mogadishu, Somalia, for the Black Hawk Down incident; Desert Storm with 5th Special Forces; Bosnia; and 5 tours to Iraq during the Global War on Terror with Delta. Lamb has been decorated for valor several times for operations around the world, including the Silver Star.

Kyle and his wife, Melynda, are the founders of Viking Tactics, Inc., a Tactical training and equipment business that caters to the warfighter and law enforcement market. The Lamb’s also recently started the Stay in the Fight Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization intended to help bridge the gap for working Americans in need.

Sergeant Major Kyle Lamb is a highly sought-after instructor, speaker, and mentor. Lamb has also written three books: Green Eyes and Black Rifles, Stay in the Fight!!, and his latest book, Leadership in the Shadows. Leadership in the Shadows highlights lessons in leadership learned from battlefields around the world. In his free time, SGM Lamb forges knives and tomahawks and spends many days fishing and hunting.